Hello from CETL,
This is our final newsletter for the 2004 academic year. As we approach the Holiday Break we need to take a deep breath and look at the past semester? and what a semester it has been for CETL and the MSU faculty!
Our first ever Faculty Teaching Certificate Program (FTCP) has been a huge success with 54 faculty and 6 teaching assistants meeting regularly in groups of 7-11. We have investigated topics ranging from the class syllabus, active learning, to diversity in the classroom. Discussions have been vibrant and rich. We have all learned so much from one another about teaching and learning at the University. The best is yet to come with the February 11th workshop by Dr. Dee Fink titled "Talking about Teaching and Significant Learning."
At the same time we have developed the FTCP, 37 faculty are mentoring 37 new faculty. We hear this has been a valuable experience for many of our new faculty in finding out about the University and aiding their work. We are so thankful that so many senior faculty were willing to help out with this important project.
Our Senior Faculty Learning Community continues to meet monthly and is now reading two books together: The Tipping Point and The Courage to Teach. There will be stimulating discussion during the spring semester in this group.
The members of the Feminist Issue Learning Community, facilitated by Nancy Fitzsimons are also reading a book together. They will continue to meet this year and next year as part of the IFO grant received last year.
A new group, the Service-Learning Community, facilitated by David Engen and Ann Schwarz, will be meeting spring semester. This group of faculty will be looking at ways to incorporate service-learning into the classroom at MSU. There are still a few seats left if you are interested in being a part of this group.
We will continue our Peer Faculty Consultations next semester. We expect at least 45 faculty to go through this process as they assess how they are doing in the classroom with the help of our staff of 18 Consultants. If you are interested please contact CETL on the form you will find elsewhere on this website.
Finally, we are excited to announce that our CETL received one of three awards from MnSCU, CTL for Programming and Leadership during the 2003-2004 academic year. This is the second year the Center has received an award in only two years of existence. The Center will also have a featured presentation at the Higher Learning Commission Conference in Chicago in early April. We are proud of our work and thankful to our dedicated faculty who have helped make CETL such a success in a short amount of time. We continue to find new ways to aid or faculty in teaching and learning.
Have a safe and happy holiday season. See you in mid-January!
Sincerely,
Stewart Ross,
Director
Dawn Ellen Kirkland,
Graduate Assistant
Dr. Stewart L. Ross
Coordinator for the Center for
Excellence in Teaching and Learning
And Active Learning Advocate
Minnesota State University, Mankato
MH 267
507-389-1098 (office)
or
507-381-7515 (cell phone)
